Butterflyfish at 5 Months

[Michael R]

My aquarium is now 4 months old and coming on November it will be 5 months.

The problem is that there is no guranatee that I will be able to find the Butterflyfish which I plan to keep (I have several ideas on the species) at the LFS when I'm ready to buy.

So, I will be checking my LFS weekly beginning in November to see if any healthy specimens of a Butterfly I'm considering are there.

My LFS, stupid as they are, won't hold any fish for longer than 3 days, so I'm going to have to pick up the fish as soon as I see it.

My only question is this:

Will it make much of a difference if I end up purchasing the Butterflyfish with my aquarium being 5 months old, as opposed to the recommended 6? There is no guarantee that this will happen, but it may if opportunity comes knocking.

I have plenty of live rock (75 lbs for a 90 gallon - It's Indo-Pacific and really porous!) and only 2 Firefish, 2 Ocellaris Clownfish and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish in there.

I only plan to keep one Butterflyfish, but depending on which species I see first from a list that I am considering will be the one I buy.

Thanks,

Michael

 

[SlowCobra]

If your LFS refuses to hold a fish for more than 3 days it is time to find a new LFS. That just says they have no faith in their live-stock and want to turn it over as fast as possible so as to not deal with loss of income due to death.

 

[Michael R]

They really aren't a tiny little LFS and I understand why it'd be difficult for them to hold onto most fish.

I'm not even likely going to purchase from them as they don't get in the Butterflyfish I'm looking into (the Collare).

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

What is this list you speak of? My all time favorite fish is the copper banded butterfly, I'm just curious what really stands out in your mind's eye.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Check your levels, make sure everything is ok. What butterfly are you looking at?

 

[Michael R]

The Butterfly that I'm most seriously trying to acquire is the Collare (Pakistani).

However, I'm also looking into the following:

2. Blackback Butterflyfish
3. Ulietensis or Falcula Butterflyfish
4. Vagabond (IF it can do fine in a 90 gallon)
5. Longnose Butterflyfish

I do really like the Copperband Butterfly, but as most of my fish are already orange and white (Firefish, Clownfish, Cleaner Shrimp), I just want some more variety.

 

[SDguy]

As long as you realize they are not reef safe, those choices are fine (vagabonds can be problematic though).

 

[TWallace]

I never understood why people ask the LFS to hold livestock for them. Why not just buy it outright? I get annoyed when I go to a LFS and see something I want, and then find out it's on hold for someone else.

 

[Michael R]

Yup, not a reef.

Thanks for the information, and about the holding, well I like to ask the LFS if they'll do it for several reasons:

1. Guarantees I get the fish I want.
2. Gives the fish some time to live at LFS before I buy to ensure it's healthy and has dealt with the stress of capture.

 

[dastratt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10939181#post10939181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Michael R
Yup, not a reef.

Thanks for the information, and about the holding, well I like to ask the LFS if they'll do it for several reasons:

1. Guarantees I get the fish I want.
2. Gives the fish some time to live at LFS before I buy to ensure it's healthy and has dealt with the stress of capture.

Just wondering, what else is in the tank? There's no magic about 6 mo if you're ready you're ready and I would say go for it if your not overstocking.

If you go internet I've had great luck with Dr Foster and Smith. I had a shipment with some immediate losses but I suspect the shipper and they reimbursed me without an issue. And I've done several coral and invert and a fish shipment without an issue. I just got a Potter's angel, considered a delicate shipper, and it was extremely healthy and ate flake food within a couple of days.

 

[falconut]

I don't think it has to be up for 6 months, just make sure it's is fully cycled.

I wish my closest and best LFS would hold fish. The only way they'll hold any fish is if I pay in full and then pay like a $5 per day holding fee. If the fish dies, you don't get any money back either. This is why I'll never have them hold anything for me. I do buy from them because their livestock is usually very healthy and they always have a huge selection.

 

[Der_Iron_Chef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10941416#post10941416 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by falconut
I don't think it has to be up for 6 months, just make sure it's is fully cycled.

I wish my closest and best LFS would hold fish. The only way they'll hold any fish is if I pay in full and then pay like a $5 per day holding fee. If the fish dies, you don't get any money back either. This is why I'll never have them hold anything for me. I do buy from them because their livestock is usually very healthy and they always have a huge selection.

That's sketchy at best. You don't even get the money paid for the fish? Or is it just the $5/day you don't get back?

 

[ryanpal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10937928#post10937928 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TWallace
I never understood why people ask the LFS to hold livestock for them. Why not just buy it outright? I get annoyed when I go to a LFS and see something I want, and then find out it's on hold for someone else.

i asked a LFS to special order a fish. i wasn't able to get there until two days later.

he can't keep it in plastic bags for 2 days, so therefore he had to put in a regular tank.

there's one reasonable situation for yah

 

[falconut]

Der_Iron_Chef - No you don't get money paid for fish or the daily fee. They don't like to hold fish. Basically if they have it there, it's for sale. Another store around here will hold any fish for about 3 days and all you have to do is call, no deposit or money required. They have limited stock though. Both places are good. I just wish the 1 would hold.

 

[Michael R]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10939763#post10939763 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dastratt
Just wondering, what else is in the tank? There's no magic about 6 mo if you're ready you're ready and I would say go for it if your not overstocking.

I currently have:

1 Cleaner Shrimp
1 Banggai Cardinalfish
2 Firefish
2 Ocellaris Clownfish

I also plan to add 1 dwarf Angelfish some time after the Butterflyfish has become established.